Textbook
Social justice, health disparities and equity in nursing
Contexts of Nursing, 7th Edition, pp.213-228
Elsevier, 7th Edition
2026
Abstract
Social justice, health disparities and equity in nursing. In D. Jackson, A. Bonner, J. Bloomfield & J. Daly (Eds.), Contexts of nursing (7 ed., pp. 213-228). Sydney: Elsevier Australia. In this chapter, we explore health disparities and the various factors influencing the quality of health services needed by people belonging to marginalised groups. We use the concepts of social justice, equity and intersectionality to explore ways to engage better with people. The focus will be primarily on Indigenous (First Nations and Māori) peoples, older people, those belonging to LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex) communities, families affected by violence, and youth living in Australia and Aotearoa (New Zealand). We start with highlighting the growing body of evidence about the importance of cultural determinants of health that are linked to health benefits for Indigenous peoples (Verbunt et al 2021). Nurses will encounter people who live with worse health status and outcomes than other people living in their communities and countries. Instead of receiving quality care to address their health disparities, those belonging to marginalised groups often encounter discriminatory behaviours and attitudes and are negatively stereotyped when seeking health services (Komene et al 2023, Moorley et al 2020). The health disparities that people experience are often reflective of wider social inequities and a lack of access to the wider determinants of health (leading to poverty and poor housing for example). While health disparities can impact people & access to health services, determinants of health are invariably beyond the control of nurses to make a difference. Nurses can positively influence timely access to, and engagement with, health services and the quality-of-care people receive. Moorley et al.maintain, ‘Being a nurse … must mean being aware of social injustices and the systemic racism that exist in much of nursing … and having a personal and professional responsibility to challenge and help end them.’
Details
- Title
- Social justice, health disparities and equity in nursing
- Authors
- Denise Wilson (Author) - Auckland University of TechnologyStephen Neville (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - NursingLynore Geia (Author) - Edith Cowan University
- Contributors
- Debra Jackson (Editor) - The University of SydneyAnn Bonner (Editor) - Griffith UniversityJacqueline Bloomfield (Editor) - The University of SydneyJohn Daly (Editor) - University of Technology Sydney
- Publication details
- Contexts of Nursing, 7th Edition, pp.213-228
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Date published
- 2026
- Edition
- 7th Edition
- ISBN
- 9780729599191
- Organisation Unit
- Healthy Ageing Research Cluster; School of Health - Nursing
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991178845402621
- Output Type
- Textbook; Chapter
Metrics
1 Record Views